Outlander

This is an older post that got lost in the archives that we decided to bring out. We know that Outlander is a HUGE phenomenon; and wanted to put this post out that gave our thoughts before it happened. Enjoy.

With the start of Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, on Starz recently, the discussion of the epic novel has returned in our book club. In the past, there have been many opinions about this really long novel. Most of our members have read the book and enjoyed it to some degree. This contributor has not read the book and will not be reading it. I also have not watched the series on Starz although the remaining members are watching it. One of our members decided to read (or have her Kindle read to her) the epic because she wanted to know the story as she watched it on television.

In our last meeting she asked why I wasn’t interested in reading or watching it and (spoiler alert if you have not read the book) I replied that I did not like the fact that Jamie was violated in the worst way (raped) by the bad guy in the story. I don’t know many character names because I didn’t read it, but the discussion over years has always left Jamie’s name prominent in my mind and the fact that he was violated at his own surrender. He was said to have done this to save the heroine, Claire. It was a sacrifice. My opinion is that it tarnished some of the alpha-ness of the hero (Jamie) to me.

Some may argue that there were other hero’s who have been violated that I still loved; Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Styxx for example. But let me say that Styxx was always attached, drugged and raped typically when he was a young man; and when his opportunity presented itself, he KILLED the person that was raping him. Jamie turned himself in to be raped to save Claire and i don’t think he killed his assailant right away; this was an epic after all.

Of course knowing that the violation occurred in the book, there was great discussion about whether it was going to be shown or discussed on the show. The member who just read the book said that she was going to not be able to view that scene if so because she really loves Jamie and doesn’t want to have that happen to him. There were emails sent back and forth about it and Bertlyn, our staunch Outlander fan and supporter had this to say about it.

“I love this series and I watched every minute of everything. It’s real life that you know has a HEA in the end. Real life sucks and then it doesn’t you have to go through things and keep moving. To me that’s what its all about. Everyone doesn’t have it so bad but some do it’s another perspective on life may not be yours, pray that its not, but you best to believe that its someone’s. Life sucks but you keep on pressing on to the ed an that’s what they do. Don’t think they will show the actual rape because it was never shown in the book, just Jamie reliving it in telling it to Claire and not in great detail just that it happened. It’s also about sick love, he loved Jamie and wanted his love in return. People do crazy things in the name of love but true love wins in the end.”

What are your thoughts? Are you currently watching Outlander on Starz?